Below are the visa categories that allow U.S. noncitizens to work in the United States: employment-based immigrant, non-immigrant visas, and the exchange visitor category.
Click the visa category for more information.
U.S. Temporary Work Visas
Below are the non-immigrant working visas, also known as temporary work visas, that allow you to work in the United States.
Visa Category | For Who | Dependent Visa |
|---|---|---|
Workers in a specialty occupation | H-4 | |
Workers in a specialty occupation from Chile and Singapore | H-4 | |
NAFTA professionals from Mexico and Canada | TD | |
O-1 | Workers with extraordinary ability or achievement | O-3 |
Essential employees from a trading treaty country | E-1 | |
Essential employees from a trading treaty country | E-2 | |
E-3 | Workers in a specialty occupation from Australia | E-3 |
Temporary agricultural workers from an eligible country | H-4 | |
Temporary non-agricultural workers from an eligible country | H-4 |
U.S. Immigrant Visas
Below is the U.S. employment-based permanent visa, also known as an immigrant visa or “Green Card”.
Visa Category | For Who |
|---|---|
Unskilled Workers |
If you have older children (21+) and plan to settle in the US long-term, a green card will be a better option for your family. All your children will benefit from your green card, by extension. Their only obligation will be to reside in the United States for at least 6 months per year.
Cultural Exchange & Student Visas
Below are the cultural exchange and student visas that allow you to work in the United States.
Visa Category | For Who | Dependent Visa |
|---|---|---|
– Students – Recent graduates – Young professionals | J-2 | |
OPT/CPT | F-1 students | F-2 |
